Utica, NY (4/12/15)- Visiting Nazareth College scored the game-winner with 1:14 remaining as the Utica College women's lacrosse team lost a heartbreaker, 11-10, in Empire 8 Conference action Sunday afternoon. Senior Megan Kane (Staten Island, NY/Tottenville) led the Pioneers with four goals and one assist.
 
The Golden Flyers jumped out to a two-goal lead twice in the first half, however the Pioneers responded each time.  With less than one minute remaining, it appeared that Utica would take a 5-4 ledger into halftime, but Naz netted two goals in the final 41 seconds to hold a 6-5 advantage after the first 30 minutes. 
 
Naz extended its lead to 10-7 with just under nine minutes remaining, however Kane scored three straight goals over the next six minutes to even the score.  The Golden Flyers were able to seal the victory as Haley DeVona took a centering feed from Kate Rothrock and fired a shot into the top left corner for her fourth goal of the game.  Naz picked up a crucial draw control and was able to stall for the final minute of play as it improved to 9-3 (4-1 Empire 8) on the season.
 
Senior Morgan DuPont (Wynantskill, NY/Averill Park) and junior Courtney Wheeler (Ava, NY/Rome Free Academy) each had two goals and one assist, while Rebecca Plunkett (Kings Park, NY/Kings Park) had one goal and added one helper.  Senor Patricia Kane (Staten Island, NY/Tottenville) also found the back of the net for her eighth of the season.  Junior Kells Casey (Sandwich, MA/Kimball Union Academy) made six saves in the loss, while her counterpart, Ashley Kirch, had 12 saves for her eighth win of the season.
 
The Pioneers (7-4, 2-2 Empire 8) return to action next weekend as they travel to Elmira College (Saturday) and St. John Fisher College (Sunday). Start time for both games is scheduled for 12 p.m.